Abstract: A direct-access satellite telecommunications system employs one or more telecommunications satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Small, low-cost user terminals are located at the user's premises and permit two-way telecommunications via user links. Access links provide satellite telecommunications to larger gateway stations as well as a network control center. Gateway stations store user information and provide connection to terrestrial telecommunications networks. In operation, the network control center allocates satellite bandwidth and power to setup the access and user links, with a minority of the satellite's power being allocated to the access links, and a majority of the power being available for the user links.

Abstract: An integrated telecommunications system provides fixed and mobile satellite-based services via one or more geosynchronous satellites. Two-way user links are provided by the satellites to user terminals located throughout a geographical region. Additionally, the satellites provide two-way access links to gateway stations within the region, and also to a satellite network control center. The network control center controls bandwidth and power of the satellites to establish the user links and the access links. A mobile cellular telephone network provides mobile cellular telephone service to a subscriber that also has a user terminal. A gateway station includes a gateway station controller coupled to a mobile switching center, which, in turn, is coupled to a terrestrial network. The gateway station controller provides control signals route calls to either the user terminal or the mobile cellular telephone of the subscriber based on a single dialed number.